The Woman and the Priest

orgotten why he was there and sat listening to the wind as if it were the distant murmur of the sea. Suddenly the keeper's dog sprang up barking, and Antiochus heard the rustle

Paul was thin

er great crime. And here he lies now, a stone amongst stones. So shall I lie in thirty, forty years, af

ought: life was beating within him, surging up stro

ld himself. "If I can get through this n

gthening over the enclosure and the wind-tossed bushes, and in the same way as he could not distinguish objects clearly in

dies we must arrange for the body to be moved. It will be necessary ..." he added as though to h

—he might have been himself the priest! When everything was ready they went back into the hut, where the grandson, on his knees, was supporting the dying man's head. Antiochus knelt down on the other side, with the folds of his

of his hands which had never sought to do violence to anyone, a

our, lighting up Antiochus in his scarlet cope, so that between the o

se for remaining here." Presently he went outside the hu

id the keeper

ansporting the body down to the village," continued Paul; and he longed to

the thought of sin began subtly to attract him again and drew him in with the invisible net of darkness. He felt

be saved!" was his silent cry. If only some one would detain him by forc

d out boldly against the red glow of the sky like the pillars of some gigantic portico, surmounted by an immense black roof. Not even the presence of death could mar

and, kneeling down beside the dying man, whispered something into his ear. The gr

duty, depart in peace. I kn

the keeper came

put all his affairs in order. Nicodemus Pania," he added, turning towards the gran

need not have come at all. What business have you to me

n't raise your voice like that, Ni

outing," said the prie

y one duty in life, and that is to do one'

d meant specially for him, and he thought God was making known His will throu

il he is dead. God is great and

the way, and when they were out

my charge; it's here, inside my coat. It is not muc

lf alone, then it is yours," replied Paul, tur

the buttons of his tunic reflecting the last rays of the evening light, had halted at the corner of the path and was giving the military salute in the direct

nt glare that came from the village itself. It looked as if the whole place were on fire; huge flames were leaping on the summit of the ridge, and the keeper's keen sight distinguished numerous figures moving about in the

"They are waiting for us to come back, and they

ith something akin to terror as he gazed at the hill-side below t

hereupon hoarse shouts and yells echoed through the valley, and to the priest in his misery it seemed as though s

. "I have made fools of them just as I have

people and confess his sin; he would tear open his breast before them all and show them his wretched heart, consum

oice of his co

glorifying God in thee and thou hast no right to thru

within him another v

art base and vile and art afraid of

s on the hill-side so light and darkness seemed to fight in his conscience, and he did not know what to do. He remembered his fi

groaned. "She thinks she has raised m

ief, that this improvised festival would help him o

spend the evening, and they are sure to stay late

, behind the church, the flames of the bonfires were waving in the air like long red flags. The bells were no

sion that echoed through the valley. A shout of delight went up from the crowd, followed by another brilliant shower of sparks and t

at full speed in advance, the dog barking fiercely a

t sitting straight upright on his horse and thought he resembled some saint

business to-night with

rs. Then he wanted to carry the box again, though he would not give up his n

led to the priest from her door an

well," s

ather is bet

ther is dead

hat was the only discord

ooked from a distance, and the presence of the keeper with his dog had infused some sort of order into the proceedings. The men were ranged round the parapet underneath the trees and some were drinking in front

e stood the keeper with hi

rward towards a street on the opposite side from the church, where was the house of its master. Whereupon the master, who hap

are you thinking

. The priest made a movement to dismount, but the man held him fast by one leg, while he led horse and ri

ost bronze-coloured in the reflection of the bonfires. The babies had wakened up startled and were struggling in their mothers' arms, the gold and coral amulets with which all, even the poorest, was ado

ed his hand on Paul's knee a

oice shaking with emotion,

cepted and immediately put to his lips; but his teeth shook against the edge of the glass as t